GB2439463A

GB2439463A - Telecommunications services methods and apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2439463A
Application number: GB0712266A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Jeffrey Wilson
Original assignee: Intellprop Ltd
Current assignee: Intellprop Ltd
Priority date: 2006-06-23
Filing date: 2007-06-22
Publication date: 2007-12-27
Also published as: GB0612537D0; GB0712266D0

Abstract

A GSM network 1 can link to a 3G network 9 and an IMS data network 11 via an SMS gateway 15.When the user of a mobile terminal 2 in the GSM network 1 sends a text message (an SMS message) to another mobile terminal, such as to the mobile terminal 3 in the GSM network, the SMS router 6 generates presence information from the acknowledgement signal that it receives as part of the text message sending process and inserts that presence information into a text field of the acknowledgement signal that it then sends to the mobile terminal 2.In this way, presence information is conveyed to the sender 2 of the text message in response to them sending the text message to the intended recipient 3.

Description

Telecommunications Services Methods and Apparatus The present invention

relates to methods and apparatus for telecommunications services, and in particular to such methods and apparatus that relate to the provision of presence information.

More recent communications systems, such as Instant Messaging and IMS (IP Multimedia Subsystem) have begun to include a concept known as "presence" or "presence information". (As is known in the art, IMS is a new international communications standard that is being developed by the Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) and ETSI (European Telecommunications Standards Institute). It defines a generic architecture, primarily for supporting voice over IP (VQIP) and multimedia services.) "Presence" information in such systems may comprise, for example, user-related and/or network-initiated information, and typically provides information about whether a party is available and what is the most suitable way to contact that party (e.g. via a call or some other form of message). This allows, for example, a user to be informed about the availability of a prospective communications recipient before making a communication to that recipient.

The presence information may, e.g., be dependent on a user's preferences, their location, their terminal type and/or the availability of transport media, etc..

A user typically may also control who can view aspects of their presence information. Presence information can thus allow users to better manage how and when they can be reached and by whom.

In the case of an IMS system, for example, presence information is stored in a presence server and users can either make one-time requests for such information about a given user or subscribe to a presence "service" that will provide regular notification of and/or updates of a given user's or users' presence status.

Although presence information and the provision of such information has been specified for newer communications systems and standards, such as IMS, to date there is no provision for providing such services in existing, legacy, communications systems, such as GSN and 3G mobile communications systems. Moreover, the Applicants believe that the provision of presence information in such systems has not previously been considered because it is thought that such information may be unnecessary, and/or may require significant modification and/or adaptation of such existing systems, for example in terms of network and handset functionality.

However, the Applicants have now recognised that the provision of presence information in existing communications systems, such as GSM, which do not already support such information, may be desirable. For example, notwithstanding the relative simplicity of such systems, presence information could still usefully enhance users' experiences when using the system. For example, the Applicants have recognised that it can be the case that even if a user's mobile phone is on, that does not necessarily indicate that the user is available and willing to take a call. Presence information would help to inform a caller more reliably of the user's availability in such circumstances.

Moreover, as will be discussed further below, the Applicants have recognised that presence information can be provided, and have developed techniques for providing presence information, in existing, "legacy" communications systems, such as GSM networks, without the need for significant modification or changes to the existing systems (at least from the user's perspective).

Thus, according to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of operating a mobile communications network that supports text messaging, the method comprising: providing, in response to an attempt to send a text message to an intended recipient, presence information about the intended recipient of the text message to the sender of the text message.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a system for providing presence information to senders of text messages in a mobile communications network that supports text messaging, the system comprising: means for providing, in response to an attempt to send a text message to an intended recipient, presence information about the intended recipient of the text message to the sender of the text message.

In the present invention, presence information is sent to a text message sender in response to the sending of the text message. In other words, presence information regarding a prospective recipient of a text message is provided to the text message sender in response to the making of a text communication attempt to that recipient.

This has the advantage that, inter alia, some presence information can be returned to a text messaging user (terminal) in an existing, legacy, mobile communications system network. The present invention accordingly facilitates the use and provision of presence information in such networks, which, as discussed above, the Applicants have recognised would be desirable.

Moreover, because the presence information is returned in response to an attempt to send a text message, it does not require any change in behaviour or new action on behalf of the user for them to receive the presence information. This is advantageous because it means that text message users can receive additional functionality and services without needing themselves to do anything different when sending their text messages.

The present invention accordingly similarly facilitates the provision of presence information whilst still retaining the essential and desirable service characteristics of text messaging, and the provision of such information in the existing, large, installed base of legacy text-message capable communications networks and terminals.

In the present invention, the attempt to send the text message (and the delivery of the text message to the intended recipient) can take place in any suitable and desired form. It is preferably done in the standard manner(s) for the communications system in question.

Thus, in a GSM system, for example, the text message communication attempt could be done via a store and forward, SMSC (Short Message Service Centre), as is known in the art.

In a preferred embodiment, the text message delivery is carried out using so-called "direct" delivery, i.e. in which a "direct" text message delivery attempt that does not pass the text message via a store and forward device (e.g. SMSC) can be made, e.g., via an SMS router. Most preferably so-called "transaction mode" delivery of text messages is used, i.e. in which a "direct" delivery attempt that does not pass the text message via a store and forward device (e.g. SMSC) can be made, and in which any acknowledgement to the sending terminal is delayed until the, e.g., SMS router, has received an acknowledgement.

It should be noted here that the present invention does not require successful delivery of the text message to the intended recipient for the sender to receive the presence information (although that would be possible).

In a preferred embodiment, presence information is provided to the sender whether the text message delivery attempt is successful or not.

The presence information that is provided in the present invention can comprise any suitable and desired such information. It could, for example, and preferably does, comprise (more detailed) information about the delivery attempt (as compared, e.g., to the standard "message sent' or "message not sent" acknowledgement messages), such as "delivered successfully" or "not delivered -memory full". It may also or instead, and in a preferred embodiment does, include or comprise information retrieved from a presence server, or database, etc.. (This would be possible, e.g., where the intended recipient is a subscriber of a network that has or includes suitable presence "support" or functionality.) The presence information preferably comprises information about or relating to the user's (the intended recipient's) availability (for communications) and/or the means of communication by which they can be or would prefer to be reached. It may comprise user-related and/or network-initiated information and preferably can be controlled by a user's preferences (the preferences of the user to which the presence information relates). It is preferably sensitive to the user's current context and/or situation, etc., such as their location, terminal type, availability of communications media, etc..

The presence information can be provided to the sender of the text message as desired, for example during, or subsequent to, the making of the text communication attempt to the intended recipient. It is provided during or immediately after the text message communication attempt.

The mechanism for providing the presence information to the sender of the text message can similarly be any suitable and desired such mechanism.

It preferably comprises providing that information to or via a communications terminal of the sender, and most preferably to or via the communications terminal via which the text message has been sent. Thus, in a preferred embodiment the present invention comprises sending the presence information to a communications terminal of the text message sender.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the presence information is provided without the need for any changes to the communications protocols, such as and preferably, the MAP (Mobile Application Protocol) standards, of the communications network or system in question, and/or without requiring any changes to handsets of the communications network or system. This has the advantage that the presence information can then be provided without the need to change the specifications (e.g. the MAP specifications) of the existing, "legacy" communications network to which the invention is being applied.

Thus, in a preferred embodiment, the presence information is provided by means of a message that is supported by the communications system.

To achieve this, the presence information could, e.g., be provided to the text message sender by means of a standalone message that is supported by the communications system, such as a voice message. In a preferred such embodiment it is provided as a standalone text message (that is preferably sent to the sender's communications terminal (e.g. handset)), such as an MT (mobile-terminal) SMS, an tJSSD (Unstructured Supplementary Service Data), or Flash (i.e. immediately displayed) MT SMS, in a GSM system. This has the advantage that existing messaging arrangements of the communications system are used for providing the presence message.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the presence information is provided as part of and/or in an acknowledgement message or signal that is automatically returned to a text message sender as part of the text messaging process. (As is known in the art, text messaging systems, such as the Short Message Service (SMS) in GSM systems, typically include in their protocol a requirement to send an acknowledgement back to the sending equipment when a text message is sent.

This acknowledgement may be positive (ACK) or negative (NACK) and may result in display on a user's terminal of "message sent" or "message not sent", or similar, respectively.) In other words, it is preferred that the acknowledgement signal that is returned to the text message sender's terminal (e.g. handset) as part of the text messaging process is augmented by the presence information (by presence information that is related to or associated with the intended recipient of the text message). This has the advantage that there is no need to change the existing signalling protocol of the text messaging process to provide the presence information, and, furthermore, it does not require the sending of an additional, standalone, e.g., text, message to convey the presence information to the text message sender.

It is believed that the idea of sending presence information in the acknowledgement signalling of a text messaging process may be new and advantageous in its own right, since it would, for example, provide an efficient mechanism for the delivery of presence information in response to requests for presence information about any given user (and not just relating to the intended recipient of a text message).

Thus, according to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of providing presence information to users of a mobile communications network that supports text messaging and in which the text messaging process includes a step of sending an acknowledgement message to a terminal that has sent a text message, the method comprising: including presence information in an or the acknowledgement message to be sent to a terminal that has sent a text message.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a system for providing presence information to users of a mobile communications network that supports text messaging, the system comprising: means for providing, in response to an attempt to send a text message, an acknowledgement message to the sender of the text message; and means for including presence information in the acknowledgement message.

As will be appreciated by those s]cilled in the art, these aspects and embodiments of the present invention can and preferably do include any one or more or all of the preferred and optional features of the invention described herein, as appropriate. Thus, for example, the presence information is in one preferred embodiment sent in. response to an attempt to send a text message to an intended recipient. However, it can also or instead preferably be sent in response to a presence information request (preferably in the form of a text message) sent by a user.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of these aspects and embodiments of the invention, the presence information is included in the acknowledgement signal by including it in (placing it in) an existing data field of the acknowledgement signal. Most preferably a previously unused data field within the acknowledgement signal is used. For example, in the case of a GSM system, the Applicants have recognised that there is a presently unused text message field within the user data

field of the acknowledgement (ACK or NACK) signal

(Protocol Data Unit (PDU)) that could be and preferably is used for this purpose. Thus, in a preferred embodiment, the presence information is sent in an existing text field of an acknowledgement signal or message that is used in the communications system in question.

A suitably equipped terminal (e.g. handset) should then be able to display this information (automatically) to the user.

This again has the advantage that existing protocols and specifications can be used for conveying the presence information and without the need, e.g., for additional NAP messages and/or changes to the existing NAP specification, and any change to user behaviour or actions.

The presence information that is conveyed to the sender can be derived or obtained in any suitable and desired manner. In one preferred embodiment, it can be, and preferably is, obtained from some form of database or store of presence information, such as, and preferably, a presence server, of or accessible via the communications network. In this case the presence server could, e.g., store presence information that relates to or is associated with one or more users, and some or all of the stored presence information (e.g. depending on the current context) associated with a given user could be provided to the sender of a text message to that user, as desired.

Thus, for example, in the case of a system that can interwork with an IMS network, when a text message is to be sent to an intended recipient on the IMS network, IMS presence information about the recipient could be and preferably is retrieved from a presence server on the INS network and then conveyed to the text message sender, e.g., and preferably, in the text message acknowledgement signal as discussed above. In this case, the presence information could be and preferably is obtained from the presence server by means of the -10 -network (e.g. a suitably configured network component) automatically subscribing to the presence server in order to be able to obtain that information.

It would also, for example, be possible to provide a presence information database (e.g. a presence server) in other networks, such as the legacy, text-message supporting mobile communications network itself. In this case there could again be a suitably configured network component that obtains the presence information from the presence server, etc., when a text message is sent.

The presence information could also or instead be derived in other ways. For example, it may be that the nature of the text message transmission and/or acknowledgement signalling, etc., that takes place as part of the text message sending process would, in effect, provide presence information (e.g. such as relating to the current availability of the intended recipient) that could then be conveyed to the sender.

Thus, in a preferred embodiment, the presence information is derived or generated from, and/or based on, network signalling and events, such as, and preferably, acknowledgement signalling, that take place during transmission of the text message.

For example, in some systems, such as a GSM system, there may be a number of network error conditions (e.g. MAP errors) that can be returned as part of the network signalling if a message delivery fails. This error information could be provided as presence information to the sender, and/or used to derive presence information to provide to the sender, e.g., and preferably, to qualify the (error) condition leading to the failed delivery, such as "user not in coverage". Thus, in a preferred embodiment, the presence information comprises and/or is derived from error messages and/or conditions that are generated and/or returned when a message delivery fails.

The presence information itself can be placed in its form for conveying to the sender (e.g. in a text message or acknowledgement message, as discussed above) in any desired and suitable manner. In a preferred embodiment, a component or entity of the communications network is configured to do this, i.e. to receive (and preferably to obtain) the presence information and to place it in the form for conveying it to the sender.

This is preferably done by the component formatting and/or placing the presence information into a form suitable for conveying to the sender and then, e.g., placing that information in the presence information-conveying message to be sent to the sender (e.g. in the text field of the acknowledgement message).

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the component that arranges the presence information for conveying to the sender is a component of the network infrastructure that is already involved in the text message communications process. Most preferably, it is a text message router, a text message store and forward device (e.g. SMSC), and/or a text message gateway, that does this.

Thus, in the case of a system where the text message is being sent to a recipient on a network or system that carries presence information (such as could be the case for an INS recipient, for example), then in one preferred embodiment the component that arranges the presence information for conveying to the sender is a gateway device that interfaces between the text-message communications network infrastructure and the infrastructure (network) that carries the presence information. In this case, the gateway device accordingly preferably receives the presence information concerning the recipient, and formats, etc., part or all of that information into a form suitable for conveying to the sender.

-12 -In a particularly preferred embodiment, the component that arranges the presence information for conveying it to the sender comprises the text message entity on the network that operates to deliver text messages to mobile entities (terminals) and to send acknowledgements to text message sending entities. This has the advantage that a component that is already involved in text message and/or acknowledgement transmission is used to convey the presence information to the sender.

In a system, where text messages are converted from a "mobile originated" (MO) to a "mobile terminated (MT) form for delivery, such as in a GSM system that uses SMS text messaging, then in one preferred embodiment it is the text message MO-to-MT entity (component) of the network that arranges the presence information for conveying to the sender (e.g. inserts it in a field of the text message acknowledgement signal). (As is known in the art, in SNS text message transmission, for example, there needs to be a component that can receive an MO (mobile originated) text message and convert it to an MT (mobile terminated) form for delivery to the intended recipient (since SMS message transmission operates in two distinct phases, and each phase requires a different message format). This conversion is typically performed by a component in the network that can be referred to as an MO-to--MT (conversion) entity.) This MO-to-MT entity can be any suitable such device or component, such as for example, and preferably, an SMSC (Short Message Service Centre) in the case of networks that use store and forward delivery of text messages via an SMSC, or an SNS router in the case of networks that use SMS routing (i.e. that can provide "direct" delivery, and, optionally, "transaction mode" delivery, in which text messages can be delivered to an intended recipient without having to pass through a store and forward device (SMSC)).

-13 -It is believed that the use of a component that is involved in the text messaging process to deliver presence information may be new and advantageous in its own right and not just in the case where that information is to be sent in response to the sending of a text message.

Thus, according to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of operating a text message entity in a mobile communications network that supports text messaging, the method comprising: the text message entity receiving presence information relating to a user and arranging that information in a form for conveying it to a terminal of the network.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a text message entity for use in a mobile communications network that supports text messaging, the text message entity comprising: means for receiving presence information relating to a user and for arranging that information in a form for conveying it to a terminal of the network.

As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, these aspects of the present invention can and preferably do include any one or more or all of the preferred and optional features of the present invention described herein, as appropriate.

Thus, for example, the text message entity can comprise any suitable such entity that is involved in the delivery of text messages in the mobile communications network, such as, and preferably, a text message router, gateway and/or store and forward device.

It is accordingly preferably a component on the network that operates to deliver text messages to mobile entities (terminals) and to send acknowledgements to text message sending entities. Similarly, in one preferred embodiment, it is preferably a text message MO-to-MT entity, preferably an SMS MO-to-MT entity.

-14 -The text message entity similarly preferably conveys the presence information to the terminal by including it in a text message or most preferably, a text message acknowledgement signal that is to be sent to the terminal. It also can preferably obtain and/or derive the presence information itself (although other arrangements, such as the presence information being "pushed" to the text message entity by another network component, would, of course, be possible).

In a preferred embodiment, as well as sending presence information in response to a text message communication attempt, a user is able to request presence information (and receive such information) about a given user or users at other times, for example, and preferably, on demand. This could be in response, for example, to specific requests for such information, or a user could, e.g., subscribe to a presence service to receive periodic and/or event-triggered presence information, for example in relation to one or more other users (subscribers).

It is also preferably possible fbr the system to be able to provide presence information automatically to a user, without the need for a user request. For example, if a previous communication (e.g. text message delivery attempt is unsuccessful) presence information could be sent to the sender at a later time when the recipient becomes available again (e.g. to notify the sender that the recipient is now available).

Thus in a preferred embodiment, a user or subscriber of the system can request or subscribe to receive presence information and/or to receive reports of a change or changes of presence information, for one or more other users (subscribers) (irrespective of the sending of any messages to those subscribers). For example, a user could subscribe to receive presence updates in respect of subscribers who are specified in that user's "buddy" list of subscribers.

-15 -It is believed that the idea of allowing users of legacy communications networks to subscribe to presence information may be new and advantageous in its own right.

Thus, according to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of operating a mobile communications network that supports text messaging, the method comprising: a user subscribing to a service to receive presence information about one or more other users of the network; and the system providing presence information about the one or more other users to the user who has subscribed to the service.

According to aneighth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a system for providing presence information to users of a mobile communications network that supports text messaging, the system comprising: means for allowing a user to subscribe to a service to receive presence information about one or more other users of the network; and means for providing presence information about the one or more other users to the user who has subscribed to the service.

As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, these aspects and embodiments of the present invention can and preferably do include any one or more or all of the preferred and optional features of the invention described herein, as appropriate.

Thus, for example, in these aspects and arrangements of the present invention, the presence information, can be provided in any suitable and desired manner and is preferably provided in one or more of the manners and arrangements described above. Thus, for example, it is preferably provided by means of a text message, a text message acknowledgement, a voice message -16 - (e.g. announcement) and/or another suitable form of message.

It will be appreciated that the present invention is applicable to multiple users, senders of text messages, and intended text message recipients, etc..

Thus, typically, presence information will be available for multiple users and can be provided to multiple users, simultaneously.

In a preferred embodiment, the presence information can also,similarly, relate to multiple devices (e.g. terminals) of a given user, and could, e.g., indicate which of a user's devices are currently available and for what modes of communication.

Thus, in a preferred embodiment, the present invention can be used in multi-SIM scenarios (e.g. where a user may have two or more mobile communication devices with the same number and in which, e.g., communications to that number may be directed to a selected one of the devices or to multiple devices in parallel). In this case, presence information that is sent back to the sender of a communication attempt to the "multi-SIM" user preferably relates to the status or setting of one or more of the multi-SIM user's receiving devices (e.g. terminals).

The present invention can be applied to and used in any suitable mobile communications system and network that supports text messaging.

As discussed above, in a preferred embodiment the present invention is implemented in a "legacy" mobile communications system. Most preferably it is implemented in a system that does not otherwise and/or ordinarily (e.g. in its defined standards and protocols) provide, and/or support the provision of, presence information. Thus, in a preferred embodiment, the mobile communications network is one that does not otherwise and/or ordinarily (e.g. in its defined -17 -standards and protocols) provide, and/or support the provision of, presence information.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the present invention is implemented in a GSM system, in which case the text message delivery is via the GSM Short Message Service, and the text messages will be SMS messages.

Thus, in a preferred embodiment, the present invention relates to a method of operating, and a system for providing presence information in, a GSM network, and, similarly, to the use of the system and/or methods of the present invention for the provision of presence information in a GSM system or network. Similarly, the text messages in question are preferably SMS messages.

The present invention can also be applied to other systems that support text messaging, such as 3G systems, and the Short Message Service specified for use with CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access) mobile telephone networks.

A preferred application of the present invention is to facilitate inter-working of such "legacy" mobile phone systems with systems that support presence information, such as IMS networks. Thus, in a preferred embodiment, the present invention is implemented in a (legacy system) network that is operable with and/or is operating with, another network that supports presence information, such as, and preferably, an IMS network.

Other arrangements are, of course, possible, such as, for example, the use of the present invention simply in a "legacy" mobile phone network that is itself configured to be able to provide elements of presence information.

The communications terminals used with or in the present invention (e.g. to which the presence information is sent) can similarly comprise any suitable and desired such terminals (e.g. that can send text messages). They are preferably mobile terminals, most -18 -preferably mobile handsets, preferably GSM terminals (handsets) (in a GSM system at least).

It should also be noted here that the various components of the system, such as the presence server, the presence information conveying entity, etc., may be distributed across a or more than one communications network, and there may be duplicate sets of components if desired. Equally, the system may be operable across a plurality of different networks (e.g. networks of different service providers, countries and/or types, etc.) As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, all of the aspects and embodiments of the present invention can and preferably do include any one or more or all of the preferred and optional features of the invention described herein, as appropriate.

The methods in. accordance with the present invention may be implemented at least partially using software e.g. computer programs. It will thus be seen that when viewed from further aspects the present invention provides computer software specifically adapted to carry out a method or the methods herein described when installed on data processing means, a computer program element comprising computer software code portions for performing a method or the methods herein described when the program element is run on data processing means, and a computer program comprising code means adapted to perform all the steps of a method or of the methods herein described when the program is run on a data-processing system. The invention also extends to a computer software carrier comprising such software which when used to operate a communications apparatus or system comprising data processing means causes in conjunction with said data processing means said system or apparatus to carry out the steps of the method of the present invention. Such a computer software carrier could be a physical storage medium such as a ROM chip, -19 -CD RON or disk, or could be a signal such as an electronic signal over wires, an optical signal or a radio signal such as to a satellite or the like.

A number of preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows schematically a communications system to which the present invention can be applied; and Figure 2 illustrates signalling arrangements of preferred embodiments of the present invention.

The present invention will be described with reference to a GSM system which can interlink with an IMS data network and a 3G network. Other arrangements Figure 1 shows schematically the arrangement of the networks in the present embodiment of the present invention. There is a GSM network 1, which can link to a 3G network 9 and an IMS data network 11 via an SMS gateway 15.

The GSM network 1 includes mobile handsets 2, 3 which are wirelessly connected via base station subsystems (BSS) to respective mobile switching centres (MSC) 4, 5, as is known in the art. The mobile switching centres 4, 5 are in communication with an SMS router 6 which acts to deliver SMS messages using the so-called "direct" delivery method and, optionally, the "transaction mode" delivery method.

(As is known in the art, "transaction mode" is a subset of "direct delivery", in which any acknowledgement to the sender's handset is delayed until the acknowledgements from the "MT" side of the process have been received. The use of "transaction mode" is preferred in the present invention because it allows the acknowledgement to the sender (to their terminal) to be -20 -delayed until the presence information is ready for insertion into the acknowledgement message.) Figure 1 also shows schematically the provision of a short message service centre (SMSC) 7 in the GSM network 1. As is known in the art, such a short message service centre 7 could be used in place of or in addition to the SNS router 6 for the delivery of text messages via the known "store and forward" delivery method.

The GSM network 1 also includes a home location register (HLR) 8 for providing addressing data for the delivery of text messages in the GSM network 1. Figure 1 also shows a visitor location register (VLR) in the mobile switching centre 5.

The GSM network 1 can link to and access the 3G network 9 and the INS data network 11 via an SMS gateway 15.

The 3G network 9 includes a 3G terminal 10. The INS data network 11 has an INS terminal 12, a presence server 13, and a home subscriber server 14 which, as is known in the art, performs a home location register function in the IMS data network 11.

The presence server 13 stores, as is known in the art, presence information for subscribers of the INS data network, such as, for example, for those subscribers who have subscribed to a presence service of the IMS data network 11.

(The communications system and networks shown in Figure 1 show only a limited number of components for simplicity. There will, as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, many other components and functions that are standard or common to such networks, and there may, for example, be many different subscribers and subscriber terminals.) Figure 2 shows three exemplary signalling arrangements when the system of Figure 1 is being operated in accordance with the present invention.

-21 -Figure 2(a) shows the signalling sequence when the user of the mobile terminal 2 in the GSM network 1 wishes to send a text message (an SMS message) to the mobile terminal 3 in the GSM network.

As shown in Figure 2(a), the first step in this process is for the mobile originated (MO) text message sent by the handset 2 to be forwarded via the mobile switching centre 4 to the SMS router 6 (step 20).

In response to this, the SMS router 6 sends a send routing information (SRI-SM) query to the home location register (HLR) 8 (step 21). In response to this, the home location register 8 returns the routing information to the SMS router 6 (step 22).

The SMS router 6 can then forward the text message in mobile terminated (M'r) form to the mobile switching centre (MSC) 5 that is associated with the intended recipient terminal 3 (step 23). The mobile switching centre 5 then delivers the mobile terminated text message over the air interface to the terminal 3 (step 24).

In response to this delivery attempt, the recipient GSM terminal 3 returns an acknowledgement signal (which may be an ACK or a NACK signal) to the mobile switching centre 5 (step 25). The mobile switching centre 5 then forwards an acknowledgement signal to the SMS router 6 (step 26) Upon receipt of this acknowledgement signal, the SMS router 6 generates from the acknowledgement signal presence information (step 27) and inserts that information into a text field of the acknowledgement signal that it then sends to the mobile switching centre 4 (step 28) for provision to the mobile terminal 2.

This is done in the present embodiment by the router 6 taking the network error conditions (MAP errors), etc., returned in the acknowledgement signalling and using those error conditions to derive presence information -22 -for including in the acknowledgement signal. (Other arrangements would, of course, be possible.) When it receives the acknowledgement signal, the mobile handset 2 displays the text that has been included with the acknowledgement signal and accordingly displays the presence information that has been generated by the SMS router 6. In this way, presence information is conveyed to the sender 2 of the text message in response to them sending the text message to the intended recipient 3.

Figure 2(b) shows the signalling sequence for the situation where the user of the mobile terminal 2 attempts to send a text message to a recipient mobile handset 12 on the ThIS data network 11.

In this case, again the initial steps are for the mobile originated text message from the terminal 2 to be forwarded to the SMS router 6 (step 30), and for the router to then seek and receive routing information (steps 31 and 32) (which in this case is obtained from the home subscriber server 14 ofthe IMS data network 11).

The SMS router 6 then forwards the text message in mobile terminated form to the SMS gateway 15 (step 33) for delivery over the INS data network 11 (step 34) to the INS mobile terminal 12.

There is then again a sequence of acknowledgement signals (steps 35 and 36) back to the SMS router 6, and the SMS router 6 again derives from those acknowledgement signals presence information that it then inserts as text into a field of the acknowledgement message (step 37) which it then returns to the original sending mobile handset 2 (step 38).

Figure 2(c) shows a further arrangement in which the mobile handset 2 this time requests presence information directly from the presence server 13 of the INS data network 11.

-23 -In this case, the user of the mobile handset 2 will firstly send a presence information request in the form of a text message which will again be received at the SMS router 6 (step 40) . This SMS message will have addressing information in it that indicates that it is a presence information request for the presence server 13.

The SMS router 6 again by means of a routing information query (step 41) to the home subscriber server 14 obtains (step 42) routing information for the presence server 13 and then forwards the presence information request text message appropriately to the SMS gateway 15 (step 43) for forwarding to the presence server 13 (step 44).

In response to receiving this request, the presence server 13 will provide presence information about, for example, a user or users indicated in the presence information request text message and return that presence information via the SMS gateway 15 to the SMS router 6 (steps 45 and 46). The SMS router 6 can then again format that presence information into an

appropriate text field in the text message

acknowledgement signal that it will return to the sending handset 2 (step 47) and then send that acknowledgement signal to the sending handset 2 (step 48). In this way the sender 2 can request and receive presence information about a given other user or users.

As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the presence information could be provided to the requesting or sending handset in the above arrangements not only within the acknowledgement signal that is returned to the sending handset, but in other manners.

For example, it could be sent as a separate, standalone, text message or, indeed, as a voice message. However, sending it as part of the acknowledgement message is preferred.

Further examples of the use and operation of a system that is in accordance with the present invention will now be described.

-24 -In the case of a subscriber A wishing to send a text message to a user B who is connected to an IMS network, for example by wireless LAN, then if the subscriber A is unsure of user B's availability, he or she could send a text message to avoid the risk of disturbing user B who may be in a meeting.

In this case, using, for example, interworking techniques as specified by 3GPP, the subscriber A's SMS message will be converted to IP format gateway between the SMS and IMS networks for delivery to the user B (to their communications terminal).

If the user A is eligible for presence information, for example by a class of service or subscription option iii the mobile network, then apparatus in user A's network will query the presence server in the IMS network for user B's presence information, and pass that information to an SMS router in the mobile originating path of the message from A to B. The SMS router can then insert text representing part or all of the presence information into the submission acknowledgement message sent back to A's handset.

In another case, taking, for example, the situation where the text message is delivered successfully and the recipient user has set his or her presence preferences to indicate reachability by voice, text or video call, then the returned presence information to the sender could comprise, e.g., an indication on the sender's handset reading: "Message sent. Recipient available for voice, SMS, video.".

Alternatively, if the message is delivered successfully, but the recipient is in a meeting and his or her presence information is set accordingly to allow text messages but to indicate that he does not wish to receive voice or video calls, then the sender could receive, for example, an indication on their handset which reads: "Message sent. Recipient in meeting.

Available for SMS, not available for voice, video.".

-25 -A further example would be when a text message was not successfully delivered. This could be because, for example, the intended recipient is driving their car and their presence preferences (which may, e.g., have been set automatically by insertion of the mobile handset into a car kit or set manually) indicate reachability via voice, but not text or video. In this case, the returned presence information to the sender could, for example, read: "Message not sent. Recipient in car.

Available for voice, not available for SMS, video.".

As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, variations and modifications to the above embodiments and to the present invention in general can be made as desired.

For example, the principles of the present invention can also be applied in the reverse direction where the sender is on the INS network 11, and the recipient is a text messaging user. In this case, the presence state of the text messaging user could be updated into the presence server, as well as (if appropriate) into the existing message waiting mechanism of the mobile network. When the mobile user becomes available to receive text messages after a period out of coverage or switched off, the existing alerting mechanisms of the text messaging network could be extended to update that information in the presence server appropriately.

It can be seen from the above that the present invention, in its preferred embodiments at least, provides a method and mechanisms whereby presence information may be returned to an SMS terminal in use.

Moreover, this can be done without requiring any changes

to handsets or to the MAP specifications, thereby

allowing it to be used with the large installed legacy base of SMS-capable terminals, and to use the well-defined GSM protocol standards for inter-platform messaging. Similarly, the present invention, in its 26 -pref erred embodiments at least, allows an SNS network to operate alongside and inter-work with presence-supporting networks, such as an IMS network, without compromising the essential simplicity of text messaging (SMS) as a communication medium.

This is achieved, in the preferred embodiments of the present invention at least, by having an automated process for returning presence information to a text message sender in response to an attempted text message communication to another party.

Claims

-27 -

CLAIMS

1. A method of operating a mobile communications network that supports text messaging, the method comprising: providing, in response to an attempt to send a text message to an intended recipient, presence information about the intended recipient of the text message to the sender of the text message.

2. The method of claim 1, comprising providing the presence information in a text message that is sent to the sender's communications terminal.

3. The method of claim 1, comprising providing the presence information in an acknowledgement message or signal that is automatically returned to a text message sender as part of the text messaging process.

4. A method of providing presence information to users of a mobile communications network that supports text messaging and in which the text messaging process includes a step of sending an acknowledgement message to a terminal that has sent a text message, the method comprising: including presence information in an or the acknowledgement message to be sent to a terminal that has sent a text message.

5. The method of claim 3 or 4, comprising including the presence information in the acknowledgement signal or message by placing it in an existing data field of the acknowledgement signal or message.

6. The method of any one of the preceding claims, comprising obtaining the presence information from a presence server.

-28 - 7. The method of any one of the preceding claims, comprising deriving or generating the presence information from network sig-nalling and/or events that take place during the attempted delivery of or in response to the text message.

8. The method of any one of the preceding claims, comprising a component of the network infrastructure that is used during the text message delivery process arranging the presence information for conveying it to the sender of the text message.

9. A method of operating a text message entity in a mobile communications network that supports text messaging, the method comprising: the text message entity receiving presence information relating to a user and arranging that information in a form for conveying it to a terminal of the network.

10. The method of any one of the preceding claims, comprising: a user or subscriber of the network requesting or subscribing to receive presence information for one or more other users; and the network providing presence information about the one or more other users to the user in response to such a request or subscription.

11. A method of operating a mobile commuxiications network that supports text messaging, the method comprising: a user subscribing to a service to receive presence information about one or more other users of the network; and -29 -the network providing presence information about the one or more other users to the user who has subscribed to the service.

12. The method of any one of the preceding claims, comprising attempting to send the text message to the intended recipient using the text message transaction mode delivery method.

13. The method of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the text message is an SNS message.

14. A system for providing presence information to senders of text messages in a mobile communications network that supports text messaging, the system comprising: means for providing, in response to an attempt to send a text message to an intended recipient, presence information about the intended recipient of the text message to the sender of the text message.

15. The system of claim 14, comprising means for providing the presence information in a text message that is sent to the sender's communications terminal.

16. The system of claim 14 or 15, comprising means for providing the presence information in an acknowledgement message or signal that is automatically returned to a text message sender as part of the text messaging process.

17. A system for providing presence information to users of a mobile communications network that supports text messaging, the system comprising: means for providing, in response to an attempt to send a text message, an acknowledgement message to the sender of the text message; and -30 -means for including presence information in the acknowledgement message.

18. The system of claim 16 or 17, comprising means for placing the presence information in an existing data

field of the acknowledgement signal or message.

19. The system of any one of claims 14 to 18, comprising means for obtaining the presence information from a presence server.

20. The system of any one of claims 14 to 19, comprising means for deriving or generating the presence information from network signalling and/or events that take place during the attempted delivery of or in response to the text message.

21. The system of any one of claims 14 to 20, wherein a component of the network infrastructure that is used during the text message delivery process comprises means for arranging the presence information for conveying it to the sender of the text message.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the component that comprises means for arranging the presence information for conveying it to the sender of the text message comprises a text message router, a text message store and forward device, and/or a text message gateway.

23. The system of any one of claims 14 to 22, comprising: means for allowing a user of the network to request or to subscribe to receive presence information for one or more other users; and means for providing presence information about the one or more other users to the user in response to such a request or subscription.

-31 - 24. A system for providing presence information to users of a mobile communications network that supports text messaging, the system comprising: means for allowing a user to subscribe to a service to receive presence information about one or more other users of the network; and means for providing presence information about the one or more other users to the user who has subscribed to the service.

25. The system of any one of claims 14 to 24, comprising means for attempting to send the text message to the intended recipient using the text message transaction mode delivery method.

26. The system of any one of claims 14 to 25, wherein the text message is an SMS message.

27. The use of the method of any one of claims 1 to 13, or the system of any one of claims 14 to 26, to provide presence information in a GSN network.

28. A text message entity for use in a mobile communications network that supports text messaging, the text message entity comprising: means for receiving presence information relating to a user and for arranging that information in a form for conveying it to a terminal of the network.

29. The text message entity of claim 28, wherein the text message entity comprises a text message router, a text message store and forward device, and/or a text message gateway.

30. A computer program element comprising computer software code portions for performing the method of any -32 -one of claims 1 to 13 when the program element is run on data processing means.

31. A method of operating a mobile communications network that supports text messaging substantially as herein described with reference to any one of the accompanying drawings.

32. A method of providing presence information substantially as herein described with reference to any one of the accompanying drawings.

33. A method of operating a text message entity substantially as herein described with reference to any one of the accompanying drawings.

34. A system for providing presence information substantially as herein described with reference to any one of the accompanying drawings.

35. A text message entity substantially as herein described with reference to any one of the accompanying drawings.